Safeguarding

The safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults is fully embraced by all York College staff and underpins the College's values.

Safeguarding Statement

“The safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults is fully embraced by all York College staff and underpins the College's values”

Staying Safe at York College

We want all students at York College to feel safe and not to feel threatened by their environment or other people in it. To keep you free from harm, we carry out all that is necessary within these key areas:

Child Protection and Safeguarding Adults

The process of taking action to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm is usually called ‘safeguarding’, or ‘child protection’ when dealing with under 18s.

A safeguarding issue is a serious risk of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional and financial), neglect or any other event that is likely to cause significant harm. It also covers things such as extremism, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Where these matters present themselves York College has a duty to take steps to protect its students, and will do so professionally using specially trained staff both inside and outside college. This duty covers young people up to the age of 18 as well as adults who may be vulnerable because of their situation. Therefore to keep everyone safe from harm, regardless of age, little distinction is made between our procedures.

Safeguarding issues usually take place in ‘real life’ but also happen on mobile phones, social media and the Internet. As a college we treat all matters equally seriously regardless of where they occur.

York College aims to ensure that all our students are safe from being abused or harmed in any way. Within college this can include during lessons, social settings (e.g. clubs and societies), work placements, apprenticeships or on educational visits. Outside of college this can involve any disclosures made to us about things that have happened at home, work or from certain people.

Sometimes the person at college may have to speak to others (including parents or external agencies like the police or social services) in order to deal with the concerns, but we will always try to maintain confidentiality and involve you in the process as much as we can.

Please remember that if you or somebody else is at risk of being harmed in any way then you must tell someone. Within college this could be:

• Progress Tutor• Student support staff (for example a Counsellor or Intensive Personal Advisor) • Safeguarding Officer• Any other trusted member of staff• Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. leaving your contact details so we can respond.• Staff only: consult the safeguarding flowchart visible in all staff workrooms.

e-safety

We take all aspects of your safety very seriously, and this includes you staying safe when you use the internet. There are some basic things to remember:• If you publish a picture or video online, anyone can change it or share it. Once it's posted or shared, you can't get it back.

• Be mindful of what you say and do online - posting threats or abuse could cause serious emotional harm to someone and might get you arrested. If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don’t post it.

• Live cams, Periscope etc. can be recorded so be careful what you say and do when broadcasting.

• Be aware that people are not always who they say they are. Be careful how much you share and don't meet up with them alone.

• It's best not to give out your personal details to online friends. That might include your Skype, email address, mobile number and any pictures of you, your family or friends.

• Watch out for people trying to attract you into extreme thoughts and ideas. Many terrorists were first radicalised online by people they trusted.

• Not everything you see is a true reflection of reality. Don’t get hung up on posts about people’s ‘perfect’ lives or bodies.

• Don't open files from people you don't know; it could be a virus, something that gets access to all your information or something inappropriate.

• Spam/Junk email & texts: don't believe it, reply to it or use it.

It's never too late to tell someone if something makes you feel uncomfortable, or you do something silly. Better to be embarrassed than unsafe!Report online abuse or speak to a member of staff.